Life and Works of Rizal

• Social and Political Context of the 19th Century

Source: Mr. Ray Obispo (NeoLMS: MIDTERM LEARNING RESOURCES)

C. QUILANG
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The World in the 19th Century
The 19th Century stands out as an extremely dynamic and creative age especially in
Europe and the United States. Concepts such as industrialism, democracy and
nationalism had triggered revolutionary changes in science, technology, economics and
politics. It is considered as the birth of modern life that brought about different
revolutions such as:

• Industrial Revolution
• French Revolution
• American Revolution

The Church also took part in the changes of the political condition of the 19th Century.
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Rizal’s life in the 19th Century
Rizal is a product of his era and his message sets forth a human declaration:

“All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights”

The essence of the life of Jose Rizal is marked by the conditions that existed during his
lifetime. Rizal’s life experiences challenged him to push his ideals and limits just to
obtain justice and equality among mankind. 

He fought against slavery, discrimination and manipulation and served as an advocate of

freedom and equality and aimed at peaceful and harmonious nation.
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The Church in the 19th Century
The Catholic Church in Europe was a most powerful institution in Europe. Since it
upheld the status quo and favored the monarchy, the Church in the nineteenth century
had been considered an adversary to the new Republican states and the recently unified
countries;

• The French saw the Church as a threat to the newly formed republican state.
• Bismarck of Germany also saw it as a threat to the unified German Empire.
• In Spain, the liberals considered the Church as an enemy of reforms. Thus they sought
to curtail to influence of the Church in political life and education.
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The Church in the 19th Century
This movement against the Catholic Church called anti-clericalism had gained strength in
the nineteenth century not only for political reasons but also of the materialistic
preferences of the people generated by the economic prosperity of the period. (1)

However, the declining influence of the Catholic Church in Europe and Spain has little
effect to the control and power of the local Church in the Philippines. Despite the anti-
clericalism in Spain, the power of the friars in the Philippines in the 19th century did not
decline; instead, it became consolidated after the weakening of civil authority owing to
constant change in political leadership. (2)

1 (Romero et al 1978: 17-18).

2 (Zaide 1999: 209).
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The Church in the 19th Century
Filipinos turned more and more to the friars for moral and political guidance as Spanish
civil officials in the colony became more corrupt and immoral. The union of the Church
and State and the so-called “rule of the friars” or “frailocracy” continued during this
period.

In every Christian town in the country the friar is the real ruler, not the elected
gobernadorcillo. He was the supervisor of local elections, the inspector of the schools,
the arbiter of morals, and the censor of books and stage shows. He could order the arrest
of or exile to distant land any filibustero (traitor) or anti-friar Filipino who disobeyed him
or refused to kiss his hands. (1)

1 (Zaide 1999: 209).

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The Church in the 19th Century

One of the aims of Dr. Rizal and the propagandists in order to prepare the Filipino people
for revolution and independence was to discredit the friars.

Exposing the abuses and immoralities of the friars is one way to downplay their power
and influence among the people and thus can shift the allegiance of the Indios from the
friars to the Filipino reformists and leaders. The strengthening power of the friars in the
19th century has encouraged the nationalists to double their efforts to win the people to
their side.
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The Philippines in the 19th Century
19th Century Philippines was largely medieval;
• The inclusivity of the Church in the Political setting was very powerful.
• Its social and economic structure was based on the old feudalistic system.

The Spaniards censorship and racial discriminatory practices were oppressive and abuses
and exploitations were rampant. Moreover, government processes had no respect for the
needs of the people.

This brutal treatment to Indios made Rizal a fighter against Spanish colonialism,
especially their treatment to us Filipinos.
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The Philippines in the 19th Century
These conditions that had experienced by many Filipinos led to the development of:

• Nationhood
• Nationalism
• Patriotism
• Desire for Independence

It made Filipinos strived in uplifting the Filipino spirit and fight for their rights and
freedom.
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Social Structure in the 19th Century Philippines
The Philippines was predominantly feudalistic (Spanish land holding system) with the
arrival of conquistadores;

• Conquistadores were the elite class that exploited the masses

• Master-slave relationship between the Spaniards and the Filipinos
• Spaniards exacted all forms of taxes and tributes and forced the natives to manual
labor

These conditions of Rizal’s fellow Filipinos triggered him to resist on the power of the
Spaniards.  He eagerly encouraged equality and justice in societal setting where Filipinos
must also be respected as part of the society.
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Social Structure in the 19th Century Philippines
1. Peninsulares - “Kastilas” Highest class in the Philippines. These are Pure blooded
Spaniards born from Spain. The wealthiest and most politically powerful among the
social classes. High positions in the Government.

2. Insulares - Spaniards born in Philippines who took important positions in the Spanish
government in the Philippines. They recieve discrimination from fellow Spaniards. A son
or daughter of a Spanish couple is an insulare.

3. Illustrados - “Enlightened ones" Constituted the Filipino educated class during the
Spanish colonial period in the late 19th century. They were the middle class who were
educated in Spanish and exposed to Spanish liberal and European nationalist ideals.
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Social Structure in the 19th Century Philippines

4. Principalia - Nobility class. The social and educated class in the towns of colonial
Philippines composed of the Gobernadorcillo, or the Cabeza de Barangay who governed
the districts and the awardees of the medal of Civil Merit.

5. Mestizo - Filipinos of mixed indigenous Filipino, European or Chinese ancestry.

6. Indios - Filipinos with pure austronesian ancestry.

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Political Structure in the 19th Century Philippines
Spain governed the Philippines through the “Ministro de Ultramar” (Ministry of the
Colonies) established in 1863.

• It helped the Spanish monarchs manage the affairs of the colonies

• Governed the Philippines through a centralized machinery
• Exercising executive, legislative, judicial and religious powers
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Political Structure in the 19th Century Philippines
1. The Governor General
• Appointed by the King of Spain, headed the central administration in Manila.  He
served as the King’s representative.
• Issues executive and administrative orders over all government officials
• Responsible for all government and religious activities.
• Assisted by Lieutenant General (general segundo cabo)

2. The Guardia Civil

• Headed by Second lieutenant (alferez)
• Performed police duties
• Helped in the maintenance of peace and order
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Political Structure in the 19th Century Philippines

3. Alcaldes Mayores 5. Gobernadorcillo

• Civil Governors • Town mayor
• Led the provincial government • Ruled the town government
(alcaldias) (principalia)

4. Alcaldes en ordinario 6. Cabeza de Barangay

• City mayor and vice mayor • Barangay captain
• Ruled the city government • Ruled the barrio
(ayuntamiento)
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Political Structure in the 19th Century Philippines
The system of courts was a centralized system;
• It was a pyramidical organization
• Headed by the Royal Audiencia
• Served as highest court for civil and criminal cases
• Together with the Governor General, they made laws for the country called autos
acordados

Unluckily, there were abuses of the officials in their power to hold public office. So,
below is the specified sources of abuses and sometimes corruption by the officials in the
administrative system.
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Sources of Abuses of the Administrative Government
The main cause of weakness of the administrative system was the appointment of
officials with inferior qualifications. The officials appointed by the King of Spain were
ignorant of Philippine needs.  This was the reason behind their bad motives to our
Philippine nation.

Without dedication to duty, there is no moral strength to resist corruption. This was the
reason why instead of focusing on their role as public officers to form a good and well
nation, they focused on getting wealth.  The worst thing was that they became brutal and
abusive to native Filipinos to the extent that they executed most of our fellow native
Filipinos who fought and resisted against them. The most corrupt branch of government
was the alcaldias.
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Sources of Abuses of the Administrative Government
• There was also complication in the situation between the union of the church and
state. 
• The priest or what we call the “Friars” also became powerful, cruel and corrupt. 
• The checks adopted by Spain to minimize abuses either proved ineffective or
discouraged.
• Dishonest and corrupt officials often exacted more tributes than required by law
and pocketed the excess collections.
• They also monopolized provincial trade and controlled prices and business
practices.
• The parish priests could checked this anomaly but in many cases they encouraged
the abuses in exchange for favors.
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Sources of Abuses of the Administrative Government
• Participation in the government of the natives was confined to the lowest offices.
• They participate only as gobernadorcillo of a town and cabeza de barangay of a
barrio.
• The position of gobernadorcillo was honorary entitled to two pesos/month.
• The natural and constitutional rights and liberties of the indios were curtailed. 
Homes were searched without warrants.
• People were convicted and exiled for being filibusteros.
• Books, magazines and other written materials could not be published without the
approval of the Board of Censors.
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Educational System
• There was no systematic government supervision of schools.
• The teaching methods was absolute. The curriculum was limited and there was a
lack of teaching materials.
• Poor classroom facilities
• The friars inevitably occupied a dominant position in the Philippine educational
system.  Religion was the main subject in the schools.
• Fear of God was emphasized and obedience to the friars was instilled.
• Indios were constantly reminded that they had inferior intelligence and were fit
only for manual labor.
• These practices resulted in a lack of personal confidence and a development of
inferiority complex.
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Educational System
• Students memorized and repeated the contents of books which they did not
understand. Teacher discrimination against Filipinos was present.
• The friars were against the teaching of Spanish in the Philippines
• They believed that the knowledge of the Spanish language would encourage the
people to oppose Spanish rule. Indios might be inspired by the new ideas of
freedom and independence, so they isolate Filipinos in the light of intellectual
attainment.